Eleanor Roosevelt High School: A Comprehensive Overview

Eleanor Roosevelt High School (ERHS) is a public high school located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City. This article delves into the history, academics, culture, and other aspects of ERHS. Another Eleanor Roosevelt High School (ERHS) is a Maryland public magnet high school specializing in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The school was established in 1976 at its current location in Greenbelt, Maryland, United States and is part of the Prince George's County Public Schools system.

History and Location

Eleanor Roosevelt High School is located at 411 East 76th Street in New York, NY 10021, United States, with coordinates 40°46′13″N 73°57′12″W. The school opened in September 2002. It was the result of a grass-roots effort by parents and community leaders to establish a comprehensive, rigorous high school for students on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The school has evolved into a highly collaborative, supportive, and engaged community, serving all of New York City. Initially located at a temporary location in Chelsea with 105 ninth graders and a staff of eight, ERHS now has over 500 students and over 45 staff members. Wide hallways, polished floors, and spotless modern bathrooms make the former Sotheby's warehouse a pleasant space to learn.

Academics and Curriculum

Eleanor Roosevelt High School (ELRO) is a rigorous school with a traditional college-prep curriculum and an excellent record of college admissions. ELRO stands out for its gimmick-free curriculum and no-nonsense approach to teaching. Although class discussions and some project-based work are encouraged, many rooms have desks in rows and lessons are led by the teacher standing at the front of the class. All students take four years of college-prep math, science, English, history, and a foreign language; many also take multiple advanced placement exams.

The school aims to cultivate an intellectually-rich environment where all are committed and engaged as active learners, examining and pushing their own and each others’ thinking, developing communication skills that allow for depth, clarity and expression, articulating and maintaining high standards, and establishing a culture where academic success is judged by the depth and breadth of one’s ability to question as well as his/her understanding.

Every year, the school selects 125 to 140 students out of over 6,000 applicants and is often selected over specialized high schools by students looking for a more liberal curriculum. All students are required to take the AP World History: Modern course in the 10th grade and the AP United States History course in the 11th grade.

English and History Curriculum

The English curriculum covers classics. Ninth graders read The Epic of Gilgamesh, Oedipus the King, Beowulf, and Macbeth. Tenth graders study Dante’s Inferno (linked to Italian Renaissance) and A Tale of Two Cities (linked to French Revolution).

Math and Science Curriculum

All 9th-graders take geometry and a foundations of math class. Seniors often take calculus. In some subjects there is not a lot of choice-students are expected to take chemistry and physics-but sometimes there’s a choice between hard and harder. For example, 10th-graders may choose between Regents global history or Advanced Placement World History.

Electives and Special Programs

ELRO offers changing yearly electives like African American literature, data science, and drama. Students may explore iPhone app development, robotics, 3-D printing, filmmaking, and computer programming. ELRO allows unrestricted internet access and BYOD (Bring Your Own Device).

Advanced Placement (AP) Courses

The school offers a variety of AP courses, including:

Algebra II (Advanced Math)
AP Biology
AP Calculus AB
AP Calculus BC
AP Chemistry
AP Computer Science Principles
AP English Language and Composition
AP English Literature and Composition
AP Macroeconomics
AP Physics 1
AP Psychology
AP Statistics
AP United States History
AP World History: Modern
Calculus (Advanced Math)
Chemistry (Advanced Science)
Physics (Advanced Science)
World Languages (Advanced World Languages)

World Languages

Students can choose French or Spanish.

Read also: Understanding SAT Math Percentiles

Culture and Environment

In September, entering 9th-graders enjoy a day at Camp Ramapo to work on team-building skills. There are lots of clubs, including Model UN, Lego art, and jazz ensemble. Students say the homework load is heavy but not oppressive-two to three hours a night. All students are expected to complete 20 hours of community service per year.

The school reserves 50 percent of seats for students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. The BIPOC student union, Asian culture club, gender and sexuality alliance, and Muslim and Jewish culture clubs meet twice a month.

ELRO partners with Morningside Center to guide their weekly small group advisories. Morningside Center staff collaborate with club leaders on events like the international dinner, sustainability initiatives, and cultural celebrations. Ninth and 10th grade advisories are led by teachers, staff, and trained 12th-graders. Restorative justice training supports peaceful conflict resolution.

Special Education

The school has ICT (integrated co-teaching) classes in core academic subjects required for graduation. These classes mix teens with special needs and their general ed peers in one room led by two teachers. The school has very few English language learners.

Building and Facilities

ELRO has its own building with labs, music and dance rooms, cafeteria, and library. A new gym is located a block away. Over 30 activities and PSAL sports are available. The cafeteria is small, and the auditorium can't accommodate full-school assemblies. Fewer PSAL sports are offered than at large schools, but students excel in girls' basketball, soccer, and volleyball. Lunch can be off-campus.

Arts Program

Through a college preparatory and liberal arts program, Eleanor Roosevelt High School (ERHS) provides diverse opportunities for students of all levels, interests, and prior experiences to participate in the arts. In their freshman and sophomore years, students select from introductory courses in media and technology, music, drama, and visual arts. In their junior and senior years, students have the option to study in-depth artistic disciplines in small seminars and Advanced Placement (AP) courses. 2023-2024 offerings included Visual Arts I & II, Patterns of the World, AP Art History, Sculpture, Data Science/Display, Digital Photography I & II, Drama, Beginning and Advancing Guitar, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Modern Band. Extracurricular opportunities included tech club, Knitting for Need, Art 4 Heart, jazz ensemble, percussion club, and Stargazer Literary and Arts Magazine. Students also regularly showcase their work in school music concerts and art exhibitions.

Art Courses

Digital Media Arts
Exploring Music
General Visual Arts
Music Industry & Contemporary Music
Theater Making/Performance
Traditional and Studio Art

College and Career

The school’s two counselors help students apply to colleges. Most graduates attend four-year colleges, with some getting full scholarships.

PSAL Sports and Clubs

Boys PSAL Sports

Baseball
Basketball
Outdoor Track
Soccer
Tennis

Girls PSAL Sports

Basketball
Cross Country
Flag Football
Outdoor Track
Soccer
Softball
Table Tennis
Tennis
Volleyball

Co-ed PSAL Sports

Golf

PSAL Team Clubs

Asian Culture Club
Best Buddies
Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) Student Union
Chess Club
Choir
Current Events and Civics Club
Drama Club
ElRo Day Planning Committee
ElRo Lab Club
ERHS Law Team
ERHS Student Government
Feel the Beat
FEM X MIND
Filmmaking Club
Finance and Entrepreneurship Club
Gaming Club
Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA)
Girls Leading Our World (G.L.O.W.)
Green Team/Naturalist Club
Jazz Ensemble
Jewish Culture Club (JCC)
Makers Club
Model UN
Percussion Club
Ping Pong
Poetry Club
Roosevelt Racers
Stargazer Arts Magazine
STEM Club
The Business in Sports Club
The ElRo Debate Club
The Pawprint
Yearbook Staff
Young Life

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